Shark Tale
(aka Sharkslayer)
Oscar is a little fish
with a big mouth and even bigger dreams. So, when he is discovered
at the murder scene of the shark mafia boss’s son, Oscar takes the
credit for the slaying and becomes the hero of the underwater world.
His fame and fortune is short-lived, as Oscar discovers that his
little lie has huge consequences. And there are some mafia heavyweights
after his blood.
The cast of voices includes: Will Smith (Men in Black), Robert
DeNiro (Casino), Renée Zellweger (Bridget Jones’s Diary),
Angelina Jolie (Taking Lives), Jack Black (Shallow Hal)
and Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas); and the boys from The
Sopranos – Michael Imperioli, Vincent Pastore and James Gandolfini
– just cant seem to shake their mafia tags: they play the mobsters.
Shark Tale is Hollywood’s latest animated masterpiece and,
with a star-studded cast like this one, it may even be the best.
The Bourne Supremacy
Following the world-wide success of The Bourne Identity, the
second instalment of best-selling author Robert Ludlum’s Bourne series
is about to hit the big screen and smash the box office again.
The Bourne Supremacy
stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, the expert assassin who is plagued
by splintered flashbacks of his former life. The stakes are now even
higher for the agent as he enters the chilly waters of international
espionage.
As Jason tries to piece together his fragmented past, he must prevail
over CIA plots, turncoat agents and covert alliances.
The Bourne Identity’s non-traditional cinematic style is
maintained in this refreshingly heart-pumping thriller. Aggressive
and muscular, it is a must-see for all.
Catwoman
Julie Newmar was the first to don the black, latex cat suit for her
role as Catwoman in the 1966 Batman and Robin. The statuesque
beauty filled the suit with perfection and set a precedent for all
Catwoman incarnations who dared to follow.
And follow they did.
Eartha Kitt and Lee Meriwether had a shot at the title. And, when
Michelle Pfeiffer poured herself into the suit and purred, “I am Catwoman,
hear me roar”, no one thought it could be done better – until now.
Halle Berry, the sexy star of box-office bonanzas such as Monster’s
Ball and X-Men, is joined by Sharon Stone and Benjamin
Bratt in what’s sure to be the hottest comic-book story brought to
life yet.
Berry plays Patience Phillips, a shy and awkward artist who is transformed
into a sleek and stealthy creature with the speed, strength and agility
of a cat. Catwoman is dangerous, elusive and untamed – and she’s an
object of fascination for Tom Lone (Benjamin Bratt), the cop who has
fallen in love with Patience.
Around the World in 80 Days
Of the latest remake
of Jules Vern’s classic novel, only the message, “it’s the voyage,
not the destination that matters most”, remains faithful to the original
script.
This time, the eccentric inventor Phileas Fogg is played by Steve
Coogan (24 Hour Party People) and his faithful sidekick Passepartoute
is played by one of the world’s most gifted and beloved action stars,
Jackie Chan.
Once again, Professor Fogg is challenged to a bet and accepts, claiming
that, with the use of modern (modern as in the late 1800s) transport,
he can travel Around the World in 80 Days.
With cameos galore,
each adventure brings a famous face along for the ride. France brings
us Macy Gray; Sammo Hung gives Jackie Chan a hand in China; Rob Schneider
plays a hobo in San Francisco; Owen and Luke Wilson play the Wright
Brothers; and even though veteran funny-man John Cleese only has one
line, it’s enough to make you cackle.
If you enjoyed some of director Frank Coracis’s previous efforts
(The Waterboy and The Wedding Singer) you’ll love Around
the World in 80 days. But if you’re looking for a loyal take on
the novel, stick to the Disney version starring Pierce Brosnan.
The Terminal
Steven Spielberg and
Tom Hanks have proved time and time again what a great team they make,
with such films as Saving Private Ryan, and Catch Me if
You Can. The Terminal proves it again.
Hanks plays Viktor Navorski, a visitor to New York from a fictional
town in Eastern Europe. His homeland erupts in a war-fuelled inferno
while he is in mid-air en route to America. This leaves him stranded
at Kennedy Airport – with a passport from nowhere.
Prohibited from actually
entering the United States, Viktor has seemingly endless time to kill
at the airport. As his days turn into months, he finds the compressed
world – to which he is confined – to be one of generosity, absurdity,
ambition, amusement and even romance, which he finds with beautiful
flight attendant Amelia (Catherine Zeta-Jones).
For those of you who think the only thing worse than being stuck
in an airport is a movie about being stuck in an airport, take a chance.
If Hanks can get nominated for an Academy Award for a film about one
man stranded on a desert island (Cast Away), just think what
he can do in a bustling airport with Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Before Sunset
When Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) first met on a
Eurail in Before Sunrise (1995), their connection was profound
and immediate.
They explored each
other’s pasts and future ambitions over a 14-hour stop-over
in Vienna in a genuine and moving love story.
Before Sunset is the stunning sequel to director Richard
Linklater’s unconventional romance which reunites Jesse and
Celine once more, this time in Jesse’s now home, the city of
love itself, Paris.
With only the afternoon to spend together before Jesse must fly
back to his home in New York, they find their connection as real,
powerful and intoxicating as it was nine years ago in Vienna.
In a stimulating journey through the gorgeous city of Paris, these
two rediscover their passion for the unanticipated, unstructured and
each other.
Connie and Carla
Connie and Carla, played by super-star Aussies Nia Vardalos and
Toni Collette, are two struggling, working-class dinner theatre performers
whose dreams of stardom have taken them nowhere.
Their lives are turned
helter skelter when they accidentally witness a mafia hit. In fear
of becoming the next in line, they take off to a place where the hit-men
will never look for them, a place with no music theatres, no dinner
theatres and no culture whatsoever – Los Angeles.
The girls go undercover as drag queens or, rather, as “girls
pretending to be boys pretending to be girls”, a line made famous
by Victor/Victoria.
With their big hair, over-the-top make-up and uncanny resemblance
to real women, the girls become the toast of the drag-queen cabaret
scene, which leaves the movie wide open for some spectacular costumes
and performances.
For the girls, even with the stardom they’ve always dreamed
of, life becomes increasingly difficult, especially when Connie falls
for Jeff (David Duchovny) – who naturally assumes that Connie
is a guy.
Gokudo Kyofu
Dai-Gekijo: Gozu
As far as horror films go, the Japanese have pumped out some absolute
spine-tinglers in the last few years (The Ring, Dark Waters, Another
Heaven). One of the best directors in this genre has just brought
out his newest tale which will have you checking under your bed before
you go to sleep.
Takashi Miiki is the acclaimed director of cult classics Audition
and Ichi the Killer. His edgy new film, Gozu, highlights
his distinct taste for torture and trepidation.
Gozu sees a sheepish young Yakuza (Japanese Mafia) member
who is ordered to kill his insane boss. Things go askew when his elder
disappears in a town overcome by loons, zombies, halfwits, a lactating
lady and a slobbery Minotaur-type creature (a half man, half bull).
If you’re fascinated by the freaky and delight in being disgusted,
indulge your horror senses with Gozu. It will horrify, repulse and
shock you – and if you’re a fan of the genre, you’ll
love every minute of it.
Harold and Kumar go to the White Castle
Following his smash-hit,
Dude, Where’s my Car, writer/director Danny Leiner has
topped his efforts with Harold and Kumar go to the White Castle
– a riotous road-trip comedy to rival even the best.
Harold, a stay-at-home college graduate who dreams only of Maria,
and Kumar, a wild party animal who wants to get into the pants of
every chick he meets, are room-mates. Harold, against his better judgement,
agrees to accompany Kumar on his journey to get a sack of White Castle
burgers.
Harold and Kumar’s mission, in true road-trip tradition, turns
into an adventure that takes place over one whole night. In addition
to plenty of crude jokes, raunchiness and hilarious references to
sex, drugs and rock and roll, Leiner also throws in Neil Patrick Harris
poking fun at his Doogie Howser role.
Maria Full of Grace
This Berlin Film Festival
award-winning film tells the story of 17-year-old Maria’s journey
from small-town Columbia to the streets of New York.
Maria lives in a cramped house with three generations of her family
and dreams of a better life. Unaware that it is not what it seams,
she accepts a lucrative job involving travel and ends up becoming
a drug mule.
As Maria is introduced into the ruthless world of international
drug-trafficking, her mission turns to one of determination and survival,
which finally sees her emerge with the grace that will carry her into
a new life.
Special movie offer
For your chance to win a double pass to Catwoman, Around the World
in 80 Days or The Bourne Supremacy, write your name, posting and internal
post code clearly on the back of an envelope and send it to Movie
Comp, SA Police Journal (168).
Conditions: PASA members can enter for each film. A limit of
one competition entry per person per film applies. Please clearly
indicate the movie of your choice.
